Keys to the Game

[pnkranger]

I'm going to say Spangler. When Spangler has gotten involved early, our offense has been great. When we can't get him involved, it's been a grind. Would like to see Ryan get aggressive early on.

 

[IndySooner]

I'm going to say Spangler. When Spangler has gotten involved early, our offense has been great. When we can't get him involved, it's been a grind. Would like to see Ryan get aggressive early on.

I agree. I really hope this week off has helped him heal up a bit.

 

[152219]

Have we lost a game this year when we had good production from the bench?

 

[152219]

Actually, the Wisconsin game is the only game this year that OU lost when they had good bench production.

 

[campbest]

Make jump shots...sounds silly and simplistic, but that is how this team wins. Everything else is just noise.

If they can create quality looks in the half court, which has been an issue in losses, OU will win.

 

[garyeb2]

Make jump shots...sounds silly and simplistic, but that is how this team wins. Everything else is just noise.

If they can create quality looks in the half court, which has been an issue in losses, OU will win.

I agree and also think that if the game is a grinder, it favors OU.

 

[AdaSooner]

I agree that Spangler could be a key to our success in tonight's game. He is the one player on our roster who embodies the tough, physical play typical of most MSU teams. He is one OU player who is capable of going toe to toe on the boards and on defense with the Spartan's bigs. Let's hope the extra rest was enough to revive the warrior spirit we have seen from him in the past.

In reality, though, all of our players will need to be prepared to bang inside and play physical on both ends of the court to counter what the opponent does best. If they do that and hit a fair percentage of their shots from the perimeter, I think OU will win this game. It's going to be a dogfight to the end, that's for sure.

 

[campbest]

...and stay out of foul trouble. OU, for the most part, has not had to deal with that this year. Law of averages may even out tonight.

 

[BoomSoon]

OU has to be tough early and not let MSU be the bully. It's about a mindset. Spartans have a ton of confidence and have been the aggressor the past 4-6 weeks.

This is not a great MSU team, but they are very good and the attitude at this time of year helps them win year in and year out. But if we can hit first or hit back, we will take away an edge.

If we don't respond, we don't win.

 

[perryj74]

I'm going with rebounding. Our first shot defense will be good enough if we don't give them second chances.

 

[SoonerJK12]

Need to keep Dawson playing >10 feet from the basket. Doesn't seem to have a lot of range, but he has a turn around jumper from 6-8 feet that can be deadly

 

[CoachTalk]

Limit one of the 2 in Valentine and Trice. Limit open looks, make them work for everything.

 

[DenverSooner]

Keys to the game are the same as always. Don't turn the ball over, win on the boards, play tough defense, good passing from post players. When Thomas and Spangler are kicking out to open shooters and/or passing to each other in the post, OU is very good.

Obviously hitting shots is always huge but if those other things happen a team can overcome a below average shooting performance.

 

[OUBig12Champs]

OU must play INTENSE for 40 Minutes and make shots, with no scoring droughts! In addition, they need to protect the rim, no bunnies!

Those are the Keys!

 

[WTSooner]

Make jump shots...sounds silly and simplistic, but that is how this team wins. Everything else is just noise.

If they can create quality looks in the half court, which has been an issue in losses, OU will win.

This is 100% right.

Not much separates this OU team from MSU. Pretty good matchup on paper, all around. So it's going to come down to, quite simply, who can knock down the most jumpers. If one team can make 3-4 more threes than the other, without needing 20 more shots to do so, that team will probably win.

 

[scrybe]

Make jump shots...sounds silly and simplistic, but that is how this team wins. Everything else is just noise.

^^^This.

The Sooners are a great jump shooting team, but simply haven't shot well during the postseason. Those shots, from Buddy & Company, are due to start falling, and if they do, the game could very well be won by double digits.

Not shooting a good percentage from the perimeter puts too much pressure on our inside game and makes it absolutely necessary to force the ball inside to our bigs. I'd rather we go inside when we want to go inside, not because that's our only option.

 

[DenverSooner]

I'd rather we go inside when we want to go inside, not because that's our only option.

I would rather OU go inside first and then look to pass from the low post if an easy bucket isn't available. In my opinion, OU has been at its best playing inside out.

 

[IndySooner]

I would rather OU go inside first and then look to pass from the low post if an easy bucket isn't available. In my opinion, OU has been at its best playing inside out.

I agree.

 

[NickZepp]

Keep playing defense like we have really most of the last part of the season. Play the inside-outside game like we sorta did against Dayton. We'll eventually make these open jumpers if we keep getting them. We've had a lot of open shots lately that are just going rimming out. Eventually those all start going in.

 

[scrybe]

I would rather OU go inside first and then look to pass from the low post if an easy bucket isn't available. In my opinion, OU has been at its best playing inside out.

What I posted and what you are saying are not statements that are mutually exclusive. I have no problem with going inside as a first option. What I don't want is for us to have to try to force the ball inside simply because it's our only option. That's a surefire way to turn the ball over. If we are hitting a good percentage of our jump shots, it will open up the inside game and Thomas and Spangler will be able to operate more effectively (or pass to the jump shooters for open threes).